Page 20 of King Luna

But once I step into Jenny’s waiting room, I’m surprised to find her staring out the window. Normally the muted, forest green walls calm my wolf, allowing me to sink into my favorite gray, textured armchair in the corner, worn in by dozens of other patients like me whose lives have changed thanks to Jenny.

I was expecting to find an empty room; to have to wait for Jenny to open her office door, her warm smile welcoming meinto her sanctuary. But today, Jenny’s back remains to me. With my nimble wolf at the forefront of my being, I must not have made a single sound entering the office.

But Jenny’s tense shoulders set me on edge. I soften my voice, not wanting to scare her. “Jenny?”

No response.

Fear slithers up my sternum. Have they come for us now?

Chapter 5

Istand frozen on Jenny’s welcome mat, unease tightening my throat. This has never happened before. Jenny has always greeted me with a cheery hello and a hug. Lately, she takes our greeting a step further, playfully challenging my OCD fears around losing our baby with a bright “How’s my pregnant client doing today?”

Today, it’s like I’m not here at all.

My jaw opens and closes, my fingertips busying themselves with picking at my thumb. Is Jenny in danger? Are webothin danger? Whatever she sees out the window, she’s locked on. If I say something else to break the silence, I know I’ll scare her shitless.

But Jenny gasps, gripping the windowsill.

My focus zips outside, following Jenny’s gaze. I have to take a few steps closer to get the right angle, exposing a dark treeline—overcast skies deepening every murky shadow below the evergreens.

But that doesn’t stop me from spotting a familiar shape: the tail end of a big, black shadow, accompanied by Noah’s wolf heightening his primal instincts in our bond, ready to protect our pack.

It takes every ounce of control in me not to gasp. Did Jenny see Noah’s wolf? Or even worse, did she see himshift?

Our car conversation replays in rapid speed in my mind. Noah was afraid of keeping me from sharing enough, but now I’m afraid Jenny has seen too much.

I can’t control my anxiety, exposing itself in my quivering voice. “What? What is it?”

Jenny is silent for a long moment, leaning deeper into the window. Her fingertips grip the windowsill even harder, bending until they squeak against the glossy paint. I ease closer, my jaw clamped tight in fear.

Shit, Noah, are you safe?I mindlink.

I’m fine, I’m just pissed at this straggler ignoring our borders again after Yas chased them out. Fuck, did I distract you in our bond?

Locked onto Jenny’s frozen profile, I can hardly breathe.I’m scared Jenny saw you. Out her window.

Fuck, no way. I thought I was deep enough into the brush. Did she say anything?

She’s just... staring.My gut churns as an intrusive image flashes across my mind: Noah coming back home to me with fresh gashes across his chest. Again.

He can’t afford me distracting him like this.

Straightening my shoulders, I suck in a shaky breath.It’s fine, I’ll play it off. Act like I didn’t see anything if I have to. Or maybe she missed the shift and just thought she saw an unbelievably big bear. Focus, and I’ll update you later.

Great. Poor Noah must feel even more terrible than before my appointment, thinking the same thing I am: now Idefinitelycan’t bring up anything close to shapeshifters in therapy. At least not today.

I’ll have to talk this through with Noah when we get home.

For now, it’s time for damage control.

Except Jenny is still so absorbed in her shock that she still hasn’t realized I’m here. I hate scaring people. Should I say something again, or does she need a soft tap on her shoulder to come to her senses? My hand hesitates in the space between us, but that seems like a terrible idea. If I were her and that’s howa client got my attention, I’d probably piss myself. Maybe that’s because I have to pee constantly right now anyway, but still.

Bracing myself with no choice but to terrify the poor woman, I wince preemptively. “Jenny?”

With a jolt and a screech, Jenny grips her chest. I scream too, causing Jenny to scream yet again.

The second we meet wide eyes, she lets out a breathy laugh, gripping my outstretched hand. “Oh, goodness. Aliya!”

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